Means for automatically applying tire-chains to vehicle-wheels



W. W. FARNSWORTH. MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING TIRE CHAINS T0 VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. I917. RENEWED MAY 511920.

1, 35 l 206.. Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

(4 (M1; 4 m 1 0. 1 61172 swvrth W. W. FARNSWORTH. MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING TIRE CHAINS TO VEHICLE WHEELS. APPLICATION FILED MAR-1,1917. RENEWED MAY 5,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce.

WILLIAM w. rsnnswoa'rn, or LITTLETON, COLORADO, Assrenon or ONE-THIRD 'r'o nnwa w A. RYAN, or KANSAS CITY, mrssooar; AND ONE-THIRD r0 slaw-Ann n,

warm, or CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND.

means FOB AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING .rmn-cfiarns r0 v smmwstm.

Application filed Earch 1, 1917, Serial N0. 151,686. Renewed May 5, 1920. Serial No. 879,178.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. FARNs- WORTH, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Littleton, in "the county of Arapahoc and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Automatically Applying Tire- Chains to Vehicle-Wheels, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to improvements in means for automatically. applying to the wheel of a vehicle an anti-skid chain, and while the wheel is in motion, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means of this character compactly arranged, and which will be easy of.operation by the operator, and without necessitating his leaving his seat. 7

A further object is to provide improved means of this character whereby the chain will be held out of the way when not in use, and which will at the same time present the chain to the wheel when it is to be applied thereon. i 1

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and. claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a vehicle showing a tire chain attaching means applied thereto, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is'a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another position of the parts.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of the chain carrier and housing therefor.

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 4.4: Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the clip which is attached to the chain and showing the position of some of the other parts in relation to the clip while the chain is being delivered to the wheel.

Fig. 6 isa detail View of the actuating means for operating the tire applying device and as taken online 6-6, Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective. view of one end of the housing in which the applying means is arranged and also in which the chain is housed when the' chain by the delivery mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawmg, the numeral 10 designates a vehicle and 11 one of the wheels thereof to=.wliich the anti-skid chain istobe attached.- .-Mounted in any suitable position with respect to the wheel 11 and upon the vehicle is a drum or spool 12, which is provided with spaced radially projecting arms 13 which preferis supported I I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 31, 1920i ably taper from the drum toward the ex- 'tremity of the arms, and connected with the drum 12 is a ratchet wheel 14 that is adapted to be actuated by means of a pawl 15 which latter is held by means of a spring 16 in contact with the ratchet wheel, and the pawl is connected with the arm 17 The pawl 15 is preferably offset laterally with respect to the arm 17 and the arm is connected with a rock shaft 18 by means of another arm-19. A. second arm 20 is connected with the rock shaft 18 and this arm 20 in' turn is connected with a bar rod 21, that is adapted to be actuated by a treadle 22 arranged in a convenient position for the operator. A. spring 23 may be provided for "the purpose of returning the treadle 22.

Thus it will be seen that when the treadle 22 is actuated, the pawl 15 will be operatedand through the medium of the ratchet wheell i, will rotate the drum 12. and with it the arms 13, and the drum may be rotated sufficiently to cause a complete rotation thereof, as well as of the arms 13. The tire chain preferably comprises side members 24:

- which are connected by cross members 25 to within the length of the side chains 24 are springs-27 which are adapted to take up the slack ofv the side chains and cause the chain to be held taut.

Connected with the other end of each of the chains 24 is a hook member 28 which may ;vided withan eyelet 29.

also be of any desired size and configura-' tion and these-hobk'members are each proset forth' for securing the'ends of the chains together and for holding the chain upon the tire. Secured also to'the member 26 on each sidethereof and at suitable oints are socket members 31, which are'pre erably pivotally connected with the member '26, and these thWhen it 'isdesired' to apply the chain to.

' sockets 31 are adapted to respectively reof the hooks 28 over the respective arms 13, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 5, after and ratchet mechanism to cause th'echam to ceive the extremities of the arms 13. The-chain is placed upon the applying mechanism by first passing the eyelets 29 which the drum 12' is rotatedby the awl be wound thereon. This will cause the member 26 to stand between the arms 13 so that the socket 31 may be placed over the ends of the arms 13, as shown in Fig. 1.

In this position the chain will be ready to be delivered to the wheel. The drum 12 is held against: rotation by a certain amount of friction between the parts and also by the pawl and ratchet 14, 15. This pawl and ratchet also serve thefunction of operating the drum. I

With the parts inthe position as shown in Fig. 1 and when it is desired 'to deliver the chain to, and apply the same upon the wheel 11, the operator simply actuates the treadle 22 until the drum. 12 is rotated so that the parts will be-moved from the full line to the dotted line position. 'When the member 26 reaches the dotted line position in Fig. 1, it will, owing to its springy nature, yield sufliciently to permit the. member to be sprung upon the tire. The rotation of the wheel 11, having the member 26 attached thereto, will cause the chains 24 to be unwound from the drum 12 and, the latter will rotate under the stress of the chainbeing drawn' therefrom to permit this operation. By the time the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 2, the member 26 will have assumed a position that the lugs 30 and the arms 13 of the drum' will be adjacent each other and the downwardinclination ofthe arms 13 will permit the hooked members 28 to be pulled down, from' the arms and drop upon the lugs 30 to automatically lock or secure the ends of the chains together. After the chain has been delivered from the arms 13, the operator may then actuate the foot treadle 22 to further rotate the drum 12 and move the arms 13 out of the way.

. In order to protectthe chain and the applying means, a suitable housing designated generally by the reference numeral 32 may be provided, in which the drum 12 and the arms-13 operate. This housing 32is pro vided with an open side adjacent the per-iphery of. the -wheel 11 and doors 33 are.

provided for maintainin the opening closed. I This prevents the w eel from throwing mud, etc., upon the chain when it is wound upon t e drum; The doors 33'are preferably spring controlled for which purpose suitable springs 34 ma be provided and the normal tendency oft ese springs is to close the doors or hold them in the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 7.

e wheel, the actuation of the drum 12'wil1 cause'the arms '13 and the member 26 supported thereby, to move against the doors from the inside and a further action of the drum will cause the doors to be opened by the drum and armswillserve the further function of holding the'chain when not in use, in a manner so that the chain maybe readily applied to the wheel whenever desired. The springs 27 in the chain serve the further function of holding the hooks 28 in engagement with the lugs 30. ,Obviously the hooks and lugs may be of any While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, his

desired construction suitable for the purpose.

to-be understood that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts without departingfrom thespirit of this invention, and for this reason, it is desired that theldrawings herewith submitted shall be considered as being merely diagrammatic. y w

Whatns claimed as new is:

1. Means for automatically applying ananti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel, embodying acarrier for the chain, and means for actuating the carrier to wind the chain about the wheel and deliver the chain entirely 'from'the carrier, the first recited means also operating to inter-fasten both ends of the chain upon the wheel and at any point about the circumferenge of the wheel.

2. Means for automatically applying an anti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel and while the wheel is in motion, embodying a carrier for the chain and means for actuating the carrier; whereby the chain will be wound about the wheel and entirely delivered from the carrier to the wheel and both ends fastened directly together. upon the wheel at anypointabout the periphery of the wheel.

3. Means for automatically applying an menace anti-skid chainto a vehicle wheel and while the vehicle is in motion, embodying a carrier forthe chainfand meansfor actuating the chain from the vehicle at will, whereby the.

' the periphery of the-wheel. l

4. Means for automatically applying an anti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel and our chain directly together; v 5. Means for automatically applying an.

bodying acarrier forthechain, said carrier embodying means for holding both ends of ing through which the chain is delivered to the wheel, anda closure for the opening, said closure bein adapted to be automatlcallylpipened, by .t e actuation of the carrier.

ans' for automatically applying an anti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel, embodying a carrier for the chain and means for actuating the carrier, said carrier embodying 'a drum about which the chain is wound, and

an arm with which both ends of the chain have connection and from which arms the ends of the chain are automatically detachable.

the chain, and meansforactuating the car\- 10. Means for automatically applying an rier to present one end of the chain to the wheel and at any point about the periphery of the wheel',-;sa1d carrier also operating to present the other end of the chain to the wheel and adjacent the first recited end and to automatically secure the two ends'of the anti-skid chainto a vehicle wheel and embodying a carrier forthe chain, said carrier embodying means for holding both ends of the chain, and means for actuatingthe carrier to presentone end of the chain to the wheel and at any point about the periphery of the wheel, said carrier also operating to present the other end of the chain to thewheel and adj acent'the first recited end and to automatically secure the ends of the chain directly together, said actuating means also operating to hold the carrier-in position.

6. Means for automatically applying an anti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel, embodying a carrier for the chain, means for actuat ing the carrier whereby the chain will be entirely delivered from the carrier to be wound about the Wheel, and means for housing and protecting said carrier and the chain While the latter is heldby the carrier, the first recited means also embodying provisions operating to position both ends of the chain upon thewheel.

7. Means for automatically applying an anti-skid chainto a vehicle wheel, embodyin a carrier for the chain, means for actuating the carrier whereby the chain will be entirely delivered from the carrier to be wound about the wheel, means for housing and protecting said carrier, the last recited means embodying a casing having an open-' ing through which the chain is delivered to the wheel, and a closure for the opening, the first recited means embodying provisions operating to position both ends of the chain upon the wheel.

8. Means for automatically applying an anti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel, embodying a carrier for the chain, means for actuating the carrier, means for housing and-protecting said carrier and the chain while the latter is held by the carrier, the last recited means embodying a casing having an open;

and

anti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel, embodying :a carrier for the chain and means for and an arm with which the ends of the chain have detachable engagement, said arm also operatin todeliver one end of the chain to the whee adj acent' the other end of the chain in such a, manner as to automatically secure the ends of the chain together.

11. The combination of an anti-skid chain, said chain embodying a clip at one end and a catch at the other end adapted to cooperate with the'clipwhereby the two ends of the chain may be secured directly together, and means for automatically applying the chain to thewheel, the said means embodying ,a carrier for the chain, and means for actu- -ating the carrier, said carrier operating to deliver one end of the chain to the wheel and vat any point about the periphery of the wheel to cause the clip to-engage the wheel,

and also operating to deliver the other end of the chain to the wheel and toconnect the catch with the first mentioned end of the chain for securing the ends together.

12; The combination of an anti-skid chain, L

a catch at one end of the chain, a catch engaging portion at the other end of the chain, and means for automatically applying the chain to the wheel, the said means embodying a carrier for the chain, said, carrier embodying an arm to which the ends of the chain are detachably connected, and means for actuating the carrier at will, said arm operating to deliver one end of the cham to the wheel, and also operating to form a guide for the catch for directing the catch into engagement with the said catch engaging part for securing the ends of the chain together.

13. The combination of an anti-skid chain, a catch at one end of the chain, a catch engaging portion at the other end of the chain, means for automatically applying the chain to the wheel, the said means embodying a carrier for the chain, said carrier embodying an arm to which: the ends of the chain are detachably connected, means for actuating the carrier at will, said arm oper-' ating to deliver one end of the chain to the lib for the catch for directing the catch into engagement with the said catch enga 'ng portionfor' securingthe ends of the .c ain' together, and means for housing and pro-- and :ifor securing the ends of the chain ditectin the chain and carrier.

14. The combination of an anti-skid chain,

a catch'at one end of the chain, a. catch engaging portion at the otherend of the chaillli,

and means for automatically 'applyin chain to the wheel, the said means em odying a carrier for the chain, said carrier embodying an arm to which the ends of the chain are detachably connected, means for actuating the carrier at will, said atm operating to deliver one end of the chain to' the wheel, and also operatingto form a guide for the catch for directing the catch into engagement with the said catch engaging portion'for securing the ends of the chain together, and means for housing and protecting thechain and carrier, said housmg having an opening through which the cham is delivered to the wheel, and a closure for the o ening, said closure adapted to be opene by the actuation oi-the said carrier.

. 15. A tire chain, cooperating means at the ends of the chain for connecting said ends together, a support for the chain, securing means connected with the chain for connecting one end of the chain to a vehicle wheel and at any point about the periphery of the wheel, whereby the wheel will draw the chain from the support, and means for attaching said securing means to the wheel, the last recited means also operating to cause the ends of the chain to be'directly connected.

16. A tire. chain, cooperating means at the ends of the chain for connecting said ends together, a support for the chain, said sup port embodying a rotatable drum upon which the chain is adapted to be wound, securing means connected with the chain for connecting one end of the chain to a vehicle wheel, whereby the wheel will draw the chain from the support, and means for attaching said securmg means to the wheel, the last recited means also operating to cause the e'nds of the chain to be connected.

17. The combination of a vehicle body, and a chain carriage on the body, said carriage embodying a movable element and said element embodying means for delivering the chain to the wheel to be wound thereabout and for-securing the ends of the chain di rectly together upon and at any point about the periphery of the wheel.

18. The combination of a vehicle body, and a chain carriage on the body, said carriage embodying a movable element to which both ends of the chain are detachably connected, and said element embodying means for delivering thevchain to the wheel to be wound thereabout and for securing the ends of the chain together upon the wheel.

['19. The combination of a vehicle body,-,

rectly together upon the wheel at an point about the periphery of the wheel, an means for actuating the said element.

20. The combination of a vehicle wheel,-

a tire chain therefor, said chain having means at its opposite ends for'connecting said means at the one end of the chainemthe ends of the chain together, means for I supporting the chain whennot in use, the

bodying provision for connecting said'end. the rotation of the 21. he combination of a vehicle wheel,

a tire chain therefor, said chain having means at its opposite ends for connecting the ends of the chain together, means for supporting the chain when not in use, the said means at oneend of the chain embodying provision for connecting the said end to the wheel whereb draw the chain from the supporting means, means for actuating the said chain and supporting means to position one end of the chain to engage the wheel, and means for the rotation of the wheel willautomatically connecting the ends of the chain upon the wheel.

22. The combination with a vehicle body,

of a chain carriage on the body, comprising,

a movable member, and means for causing the said member to fasten the ends of a chain directly together upon a vehicle wheel and at any point about the periphery of the wheel. I

23. Means for automatically applying an anti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel to be wound thereabout and for securing together theends of the chain at any point about the periphery of the wheel, and embodying means for receiving and holding the chain when not in use.

24. Means for automatically applying an anti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel to be wound thereabout and for securing together the ends of the chain at any point about the periphery of the wheel and while the vehicle is in motion, and embodying means for receiving and holding'the chain when not in use.

anti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel to be 25. Means forautomatically applying an wound thereabout and for securing together the ends of the chain at any point about the periphery of the wheel, and embodying means for rece1ving the chain when not in 26. Means for automatically applying an In testimony whereof I have signed my 10 anti-skid chain to a vehicle wheel and while name to this specification, in the presence of the Vehicle is in motion, embodying a cartwo subscribing witnesses, on this 15th day rier for the chain, andmeans for actuating of February, A. D. 1917 a the chain from the vehicle at will whereby the chain will be wound about the wheel and WILLIAM FARNSWO-RTH' the ends of the chain will be connected di- Witnesses:

rectlylz together and at, any point about the M.'LANGDON,

J 0s. A. HABERBOSOH. 

